Latest news with #PortraitofaLady
Winnipeg Free Press
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sharing a gaze across centuries of time
WHAT IT IS: A painting of oil and tempera on wood, Portrait of a Lady (dated about 1540) by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, is from the WAG-Qaumajuq's permanent collection. It is currently on view as part of the historical collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and decorative art in the long, narrow Gallery 1. Shows of new works and big-name travelling exhibitions tend to grab all the art-world attention. But the permanent collections of large art institutions are important resources for scholarship and research. They're crucial in the preservation of cultural heritage. Beyond that, there's just something satisfying for regular gallery visitors in being able to return to favourite pieces over the years, visiting them like old friends. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Portrait of a Lady (dated about 1540) by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Cranach was a painter to the Saxony court in Wittenberg, and his portraits of women generally express Northern Renaissance ideals of beauty and fashion. Here, the subject has a high, unmarked forehead, which was considered a sign of beauty and serenity. (Elegant women of the day often painstakingly plucked their hair to achieve this look.) She also has the physical slightness, the narrow sloping shoulders, the extreme paleness that Cranach favoured in the female form, holdovers of the Gothic style. The sitter's outfit shows off not just her wealth and status but also the artist's ability to capture texture and detail. We see the sumptuous, velvety material of the dress, the hard metallic gleam of the chains, the delicate puff of feathers atop her intricate headgear. But underneath all this finery, who is this unnamed woman? In historical portraiture in the European tradition, men are generally defined by their achievements, while women are defined by their physical appearance. Cranach has painted her as she is expected to be — beautiful and stylish. The one place where her individuality might break through is in her facial expression, and that remains enigmatic, hard to read. This mysterious quality was only underlined when a radiographic examination revealed that at one point the good lady had a platter with a severed human head under her arms, in the lower left of the panel. This suggests the sitter was initially portrayed in the guise of Salome, who danced before Herod and then demanded the head of John the Baptist as a reward. Cranach had kind of a thing for lovely women and decapitations, and he often painted women of the court as Salome or as Judith with the head of Holofernes. There are weird juxtapositions in these works, between the smooth, pale, composed faces of the women and the gawping mouths and raggedly bloody necks of their victims. WHY IT MATTERS: Galleries and museums often reframe and recontextualize works in their permanent collection through themed exhibitions. There are two such shows on right now at WAG-Qaumajuq, Crying Over Spilt Tea and a matter of time, and these are important projects, demonstrating how the meanings and effects of art can shift over time, as culture, society and audiences change. But there's also something valuable in the serendipitous experiences that can be found when wandering through the historical galleries, where groupings are loosely chronological or regional. Without a lot of connecting information, a viewer often ends up in an odd, unexpected, one-on-one connection with a work that just draws them in, sometimes for reasons that aren't initially clear. Monthly What you need to know now about gardening in Winnipeg. An email with advice, ideas and tips to keep your outdoor and indoor plants growing. Cranach's work might just be an arrangement of paint on wood, but because it's a portrait, it can feel like a personal encounter — we look at her, and she looks at us, across centuries of time. In the daily art posts he wrote during the COVID-19 lockdown, Stephen Borys, WAG-Qaumajuq's then director and CEO, said he finds her gaze 'both intense and gentle,' and I can see that, too. At other times, I think I see a hint of haughty, dangerous eroticism, perhaps a holdover from her incarnation as Salome. Is there even something a little challenging in the direct way she looks at us? I honestly don't know, which is frustrating but also fascinating — and why I keep going back. Alison GillmorWriter Studying at the University of Winnipeg and later Toronto's York University, Alison Gillmor planned to become an art historian. She ended up catching the journalism bug when she started as visual arts reviewer at the Winnipeg Free Press in 1992. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Dirty ashtray wrapped in floral notes': The unusual perfumes worth trying
This story is part of the June 22 edition of Sunday Life. See all 15 stories. A friend of mine, who is a serious fragrance addict, once – rather foolishly – revealed her signature scent to me: Portrait of a Lady, from Editions de Parfums By Frédéric Malle ($436 for the 50ml EDP). I then shared her secret with the world in my book, Secrets of a Beauty Queen. I am now a devotee of this intoxicating oriental rose with a blend of benzoin, cinnamon, patchouli, musk and frankincense; I have nicknamed it my 'fragrance heroin'. Having betrayed my friend's trust, she proudly (and rather smugly) revealed that she had a new signature scent, and that she was never going to give it up. I poked and prodded her for details, and she talked tantalisingly of it smelling like a newborn baby's head combined with breast milk. Not to be deterred, I Googled the heck out of it. My instinct tells me it's Demeter New Baby ($35), all lemony and cream. Tom Ford is always a fountain of inspiration when it comes to out-there fragrances. There is his F---ing Fabulous ($1600 for 250ml), which he himself describes as being 'undeniably the most straightforward name for such a beautiful scent. Why make it complicated?' It is explicit, sexy, earthy and bold with notes of oriental leather, bitter almond oil, tonka bean, orris root and clary sage oil. Another Tom Ford winner is Vanilla Sex ($395 for 30ml). The crazy kids at Libre d'Orange are always coming up with surprising scents including the renowned Sécrétions Magnifiques ($150 for 50ml), which smells like several bodily fluids including blood, sweat and saliva. Its creators refer to it as 'subversive' and 'disturbing' saying, 'It's love or hate at first sight. Like blood, sweat, sperm, saliva, [it] is as real as an olfactory coitus.' This rather daring and experimental scent is softened with coconut and sandalwood notes. Also from this scent stable, we love Jasmin et Cigarette ($260 for 100ml). The name says it all: dirty ashtray wrapped in floral notes. Loading Another on our list of unique fragrances is Moth and Rabbit Perfumes' La Haine ($165 for 50ml). It is an intoxicating unisex scent with notes of birch tar, cedar, leather and musk. And, finally, an oldie but serious goodie is Fracas de Robert Piguet ($299 for 100ml), which should be worn with extreme caution, as it can attract serious attention. It is an incredibly lush white floral with tuberose, jasmine and gardenia as its seductive top notes, with a base of sandalwood and musk. I once had to do a death-roll from a car to escape an unwanted advance while wearing it.
The Age
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Dirty ashtray wrapped in floral notes': The unusual perfumes worth trying
This story is part of the June 22 edition of Sunday Life. See all 4 stories. A friend of mine, who is a serious fragrance addict, once – rather foolishly – revealed her signature scent to me: Portrait of a Lady, from Editions de Parfums By Frédéric Malle ($436 for the 50ml EDP). I then shared her secret with the world in my book, Secrets of a Beauty Queen. I am now a devotee of this intoxicating oriental rose with a blend of benzoin, cinnamon, patchouli, musk and frankincense; I have nicknamed it my 'fragrance heroin'. Having betrayed my friend's trust, she proudly (and rather smugly) revealed that she had a new signature scent, and that she was never going to give it up. I poked and prodded her for details, and she talked tantalisingly of it smelling like a newborn baby's head combined with breast milk. Not to be deterred, I Googled the heck out of it. My instinct tells me it's Demeter New Baby ($35), all lemony and cream. Tom Ford is always a fountain of inspiration when it comes to out-there fragrances. There is his F---ing Fabulous ($1600 for 250ml), which he himself describes as being 'undeniably the most straightforward name for such a beautiful scent. Why make it complicated?' It is explicit, sexy, earthy and bold with notes of oriental leather, bitter almond oil, tonka bean, orris root and clary sage oil. Another Tom Ford winner is Vanilla Sex ($395 for 30ml). The crazy kids at Libre d'Orange are always coming up with surprising scents including the renowned Sécrétions Magnifiques ($150 for 50ml), which smells like several bodily fluids including blood, sweat and saliva. Its creators refer to it as 'subversive' and 'disturbing' saying, 'It's love or hate at first sight. Like blood, sweat, sperm, saliva, [it] is as real as an olfactory coitus.' This rather daring and experimental scent is softened with coconut and sandalwood notes. Also from this scent stable, we love Jasmin et Cigarette ($260 for 100ml). The name says it all: dirty ashtray wrapped in floral notes. Loading Another on our list of unique fragrances is Moth and Rabbit Perfumes' La Haine ($165 for 50ml). It is an intoxicating unisex scent with notes of birch tar, cedar, leather and musk. And, finally, an oldie but serious goodie is Fracas de Robert Piguet ($299 for 100ml), which should be worn with extreme caution, as it can attract serious attention. It is an incredibly lush white floral with tuberose, jasmine and gardenia as its seductive top notes, with a base of sandalwood and musk. I once had to do a death-roll from a car to escape an unwanted advance while wearing it.
Economic Times
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
The world's most famous museum, home to the Mona Lisa, is now shut. Take a look at its iconic masterpieces
Mona Lisa Aphrodite, known as the Venus de Milo The Winged Victory of Samothrace The Pyramid Great Sphinx of Tanis Portrait of a Lady For many, a trip to Paris isn't complete without stepping under the iconic glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum and witnessing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo . But on Monday, instead of gazing at legendary artworks, thousands of confused tourists stood in long lines outside, tickets in hand, as the Louvre—the world's most-visited museum—unexpectedly shut its doors. The cause? A sudden and unannounced strike by museum staff, who say they're buckling under the pressure of overwhelming crowds, insufficient staffing, and poor working conditions, according to an Associated Press strike erupted during an internal meeting, and by afternoon, gallery attendants, security, and ticketing agents had all walked off the job. The iconic glass pyramid entrance became a symbol not of awe, but of frustration, as tourists were left staring in the shutdown made global headlines, it's a moment that reminds us why the Louvre remains such a draw for millions each year. Housing more than 35,000 works of art, the Louvre is not just a museum—it's a living chronicle of human creativity and its crown jewels is Leonardo da Vinci 's Mona Lisa, famously enigmatic and technically masterful. From her legendary smile to the delicate sfumato technique that gives the painting its misty atmosphere, the Mona Lisa has fascinated visitors for there's the Venus de Milo, discovered on the Greek island of Milos and gifted to the Louvre in 1821. With her missing arms and graceful posture, she became an instant icon of classical beauty and has remained a centrepiece ever tall at the top of the Daru staircase is The Winged Victory of Samothrace , a breathtaking sculpture that once overlooked an ancient Greek sanctuary. Captured in motion with billowing drapery and powerful wings, the statue represents Goddess Nike, the messenger of Louvre itself is a work of art. The famed Pyramid, designed by I.M. Pei, once controversial, now stands as one of Paris's most photographed landmarks. What many don't realise is that the museum has not one but five pyramids, including two smaller glass pyramids and an inverted pyramid that illuminates the underground entrance near the Carrousel shopping centre, as per the Louvre even deeper into history, visitors encounter the Great Sphinx of Tanis, an ancient Egyptian sculpture symbolising divine power and protection. With the body of a lion and the face of a pharaoh, it was designed to guard sacred spaces—a fitting metaphor for the museum among the museum's priceless treasures is Leonardo's Portrait of a Lady, known as La Belle Ferronnière, a striking example of Renaissance portraiture that showcases Leonardo's unmatched ability to capture presence and per reports in the Associated Press, the museum might open on Wednesday.
7NEWS
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
DB Cosmetics drops the dupe collection of the year with $12.99 fragrances inspired by cult perfumes
Aussie shoppers are obsessed with this new perfume collection that's only $12.99 each but smells like a $611 cult favourite. The six-piece fragrance range that launched this week is already making waves for delivering luxe-level scent experiences without the sky-high price tags. Inspired by best-selling perfumes from prestige houses like Frederic Malle, Fenty, Kayali, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian, this collection makes it possible to smell like a designer label — on a drugstore budget. The standout of the collection is Painted Lady, DB's bold and romantic take on Frederic Malle's Portrait of a Lady, a fragrance that typically retails for a staggering $611. Painted Lady recreates the beloved scent with a lush blend of rose petals, spiced amber, and juicy dark berries. The result is an opulent, complex perfume that feels every bit as elegant and sophisticated — at a fraction of the cost. Amanda Connors, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Total Beauty Network, says the new range is about changing the perception of what affordable beauty can be. 'We wanted to show that smelling incredible doesn't have to cost a fortune. Our new fragrance range is luxurious, long-lasting and crafted with care. It's everything you'd expect from a high-end perfume, without the high-end price.' And Painted Lady is just the beginning. The full collection includes: Fancy: A zesty, floral-musk scent inspired by Fenty Eau de Parfum, blending fruit-forward top notes with a sensual musky base. Burning Love: DB's version of Kayali's Burning Cherry, leans into smoky sweetness with cherry, praline, and rich woods. Fluidité: Inspired by Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Gentle Fluidity Gold, offers warm vanilla, nutmeg, and amber in a comforting, gender-neutral blend. Chaos: A bold white floral homage to Robert Piguet's Fracas, stars lush tuberose with soft gardenia and jasmine. All six fragrances are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated to last, ticking every box for modern beauty lovers who want ethical elegance without compromise. From the packaging to the performance, DB's Winter fragrance drop is being hailed as one of the most successful designer-inspired perfume collections to ever land in Australian stores.
